Friday, July 27, 2012

Who’s on Tour?

Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey lead the band to the Carolinas

British rock legends the Who recently announced a 36-date U.S. summer tour in which they’ll perform their massive 1973 rock opera Quadrophenia in its entirety. The double album spawned such hits as “Love, Reign O’er Me,” “5:15,” and “The Real Me.” The band last took Quadrophenia on the road in 1996 with the late John Entwistle on board.

Led by guitarist Pete Townshend and singer Roger Daltrey (the two surviving members of the group), the Who will kick off the tour on Thurs. Nov. 1 in Florida. The lineup will feature Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr’s kid) on drums, Pino Palladino on bass, Simon Townshend (Pete’s kid brother) on guitar, and Chris Stainton, Loren Gold, and Frank Simes on keyboards.

“We’ve been anxious to work together before we drop dead,” Townshend said in a press conference last week. “I really love playing all of it. It’s a unique piece for me. Some Who music is nightmarish to perform live. But for me on guitar, everything falls under the fingers. It flows naturally.”

This is the band’s first major North American tour in four years. The Who will get close to Charleston with concerts at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga. (near Atlanta) on Sun. Nov. 5, the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville on Thurs. Nov. 8, and the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. on Fri. Nov. 9. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on July 27 through the Who’s official fan club and Ticketmaster outlets.